'''Dark Land''', also referred to as [[Dark Country]] is a mysterious continent south of [[Middle-earth]]. No [[Elves]] or [[Dwarves]] live here, but there could be wild [[Men]] here. The [[Númenórean]]s probably visited it on their long journeys, although it is not known if they established dwellings there.

[[File:Quentin Lowagie - Arda in the Third Age.png|thumb|The Dark Land portrayed as the southeast continent]]

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'''Dark Land''', also referred to as '''South Land''', was a mysterious continent far south-east of the landmass of which [[Middle-earth]] was part. It laid east of the [[East Sea]].<ref name=AmbarV>{{HM|SM}}, "The Ambarkanta: Map V", pp. 250-1</ref>

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==History==

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No inhabitants or history of the Dark Land were ever officially recorded.

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As seen in the [[The Shaping of Middle-earth |Ambarkanta]], it occupies a position on [[Arda]] much like Antarctica and Australia do compared to Eurasia, if Antarctica and Australia were one land-mass.

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==Canonicity and Inspiration==

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The Dark Land has no role in the [[legendarium]] and appears only in an early map by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]],<ref name=AmbarV/> likely dating from the mid-1930s.<ref>{{HM|LR}}, pp. 9, 108</ref><ref>{{CG|RG}}, p. 42</ref>

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Before [[Africa]] was visited by people from Europe, it was known as the "Dark Land". It is possible that Tolkien could have been inspired by this.

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[[Tolkien fandom|Fans]] have suggested and discussed different theories of inspiration behind this notion:

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*the Dark Land as reminiscent of [[Wikipedia:Lemuria (continent)|Lemuria]].<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elfling/message/35418 Message 35418] (dated 8 May 2009) at [[Elfling]] (accessed 20 October 2011)</ref>

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*the Dark Land as perhaps representing a combination of both Australia and Antarctica (because of its geographic position).<ref>"[http://www.lotrplaza.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=212156 Dark Land...a continent south of Middle Earth?]" at [http://www.lotrplaza.com/forum/default.asp The Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza Forum] (accessed 20 October 2011)</ref>

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In the game ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'' by [[Iron Crown Enterprises]], a [[Sindarin]] name for the Dark Land &mdash; '''Morenor''' (probably intended to mean "Dark Middle-earth") &mdash; was given, although it does not appear in any of Tolkien's writings. If the name existed in Sindarin at all the form would more likely be '''Morennor'''.

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==Portrayal in adaptations==

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'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''

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:Although never fleshed out in much detail, a "dark continent" called Mórenorë is said to be situated south of Middle-earth, separated by the sea of Haragaer.<ref>{{ICE|2003}}, pp. 7, 9</ref> A few glimpses of this remote continent, however, were provided:

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*A black cold-drake, Naikamil, fled from mountains in the south of Endor to Mórenorë after killing her mate.<ref>{{ICE|2012}}, p. 102</ref>

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*[[Ungoliant]], a monster of the Elder Days, is said to have "settled in the shadowy reaches of Morenórë, the Dark Continent",<ref group=note>Inspired by a passage in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', which says that Ungoliant went "into the forgotten south of the world", after having dwelt at [[Nan Dungortheb]] (cf. "[[Of the Flight of the Noldor]]").</ref> according to tales of the Avari Elves.<ref>{{ICE|2006}}, p. 117</ref>

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*Ninko Goldmaster, a mysterious merchant appearing as a character in an adventure setting, is rumoured to have visited distant lands, including Mórenorë.<ref>{{ICE|3112}}, p. 117</ref>

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==See also==

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*[[Uttermost East]]

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It is also a name of [[Mordor]], the dwelling place of [[Sauron]] in the southeast of Middle-earth. Mordor literally means "Dark Land".

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{{references|note}}

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__NOTOC__

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[[Category:Locations]]

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[[Category:Non-canon locations]]

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[[Category:Regions]]

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[[Category:Arda]]

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[[de:Dunkelland]]

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[[de:Mordor]]

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[[fi:Musta Maa]]

[[fi:Musta Maa]]

Revision as of 23:25, 1 November 2012

This article is about the mysterious dark continent. For the other "Dark Land" in Middle-earth, see Mordor.

The Dark Land portrayed as the southeast continent

Dark Land, also referred to as South Land, was a mysterious continent far south-east of the landmass of which Middle-earth was part. It laid east of the East Sea.[1]

History

No inhabitants or history of the Dark Land were ever officially recorded.

Portrayal in adaptations

Although never fleshed out in much detail, a "dark continent" called Mórenorë is said to be situated south of Middle-earth, separated by the sea of Haragaer.[6] A few glimpses of this remote continent, however, were provided:

A black cold-drake, Naikamil, fled from mountains in the south of Endor to Mórenorë after killing her mate.[7]

Ungoliant, a monster of the Elder Days, is said to have "settled in the shadowy reaches of Morenórë, the Dark Continent",[note 1] according to tales of the Avari Elves.[8]

Ninko Goldmaster, a mysterious merchant appearing as a character in an adventure setting, is rumoured to have visited distant lands, including Mórenorë.[9]